Apparatus for placing bed and bank coverings in waterways.



No. 883,084. P-ATENTEDMAR. 24, 1908.

A. GASSE.

VAPPARATUS POR PLACING BED AND BANK COVBRINGS IN WATERWAYS.

` APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 5, 1907.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONSE CASSE, OF BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

APPARATUS FOR PLACING BED AND BANK COVERINGS IN WATERWAYS.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ALPHONSE CASSE, a subject of the King of Belgium, residing at Brussels, Belgium, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Placing Bed and Bank Coverings in Waterways; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to apparatus for placing coverings on the beds and inclined banks of waterways to prevent erosion etc., the objects of the invention being to provide a simple and effective apparatus which shall be self contained and capable of operation without interrupting or interfering with traflic through the waterway and without be- `ing itself interfered with by such traffic.

invention is not limited to an apparatus designed only for laying this particular form of covering but is applicable generally to vapparatus for laying coverings on the banks and beds of water-ways,streams, canals, etc., wherever such covering is laid in the form of a sheet and is in a more or less flexible or yielding condition during the laying operation.

As illustrated, the apparatus embodies a float A of any preferred detail construction, but preferably having a water-tight compartment A at the front and weighted or ballasted on the rear side as indicated at A2 in order to counterbalance the weight of the tilting platform B pivotally supported on the float near the front edge. This tilting platform is designed to form the temporary support for the protective covering indicated at C and also the slide way or guide for directing and depositing the covering in its final resting place on the bed or bank of the waterway. Any usual or preferred construction designed to facilitate the sliding of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 5, 1907.

Patented March 24, 1908.

Serial No. 387,109.

platform may be controlled or it may be 4 hoisted or held in horizontal position by an adjustable connection as indicated at F. The adjustable connection may extend to a drum or windlass E and the latter may in turn be controlled by a motor G through driving and brake connection of the usual kind.

At its forward edge, the platform is provided with a roller H preferably'extending parallel with said edge for its full width, the position of the roller being such that it will travel on the surface of the bank or bed to be covered. The roller operates as a means for compressing the said surface and also as the means whereby the float and platform may be caused to travel as the laying of the covering progresses. the latter result, said roller is power driven, the particular driving connections shown embodying a worm gear on the roller at H3 and a shaft H having a worm H2 meshing with the gear H3, said shaft being driven from the motor through a worm gear I journaled on an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the platform and meshing with a second worm I on the shaft H. With a viewvto smoothing the surface of the bed or bank more effectu a ly, a cutter or scraper K may be located on the front of the platform in position to cut off and scrape down any projections or irregularities which may exist.

In operation the float is preferably held against movement parallel with the bank and its outward movement may also be restrained by cables such as at L controlled by hand and passing diagonally from the float to suitable anchorage on the bank, there being no cables or other obstructions on the outer side of the float to interfere with free navigation. Assuming that the covering has been prepared and rests on the tilting platform as shown in full lines in the drawing, its edge at the top of the bank is suitably anchored and the power connections are established to rotate the roller in a direction to cause the edge of the platform to travel down the slope of the bank and the fioat to simultaneously move away from the shore. As these movements take place the sheet of protective covering slides down the To effectively accomplish inclined surface of the platform and is deposited regularly and smoothly on the surface as shown by the dotted lines in the drawing.

By making the roller at the front of the tilting platform the means whereby the position of the platform and float is shifted, not only is such movement coordinated with the laying of the covering, but the control is rendered certain and easy and the weight of the covering is to a large extent shifted from the float to the embankment and consequently neither the iioat or the platform need be of massive design.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and beds of waterways, the combination of the float, tilting platform carried thereby, the driven roller journaled at the outer edge of said platform and amotor mechanism for driving said roller.

2. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and beds of waterways, the combination of the float, tilting platform mounted on the ioat in proximity to one edge thereof and a power driven roller j ournaled in the platform at its free edge and adapted to move the platform and float by contact with the surface on which the covering is laid.

3. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and beds of waterways, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit a float, a platform forming a support and slideway for the covering, said platform being pivotally mounted on the float and means carried by the platform for moving the platform and float in accord with the movement necessary to discharge the covering in the form of a layer or sheet from the edge of the platform onto the surface to be covered.

4. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and beds of Waterways, the combination of the iioat, the platform forming a support and slideway for the covering, pivotally mounted on the float, a

' roller journaled in the free edge of the platform, a motor on the float and driving gearing between the motor and roller.

5. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and beds of waterways, the combination of the fioat, the platform forming a support and slideway for the covering, pivotally mounted on the iioat, a roller journaled in the free edge of the platform, ya motor on the float, and driving gearing between the motor and roller embodying a gear having an axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the platform and a worm shaft and gear.

6. In an apparatus for laying protective coverings on the banks and bedsof waterways, the combination of the float, the platform forming a support and slideway for the covering, pivotally mounted on the iioat and a scraper secured in proximity to the free edge of the platform whereby the surface on which the covering is deposited from the platform will be smoothed as the edge of the platform advances.

ALPHONSE CASSE.

Witnesses:

THEO. J. WHITE, SADIE LAUBE. 

